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Kel Richards'
Ozwords

Kel Richards' OzwordsKel Richards' OzwordsKel Richards' Ozwords

The Ozword of the Day: “Menticide”

Are our governments guilty of ‘menticide’? 

Is that what they are doing to us? 

‘Menticide’ is recorded from 1951, when it first appeared in the American Journal of Psychiatry (in the February issue). 

The official Oxford definition is ‘The undermining or destruction of a person’s mind or will, esp. by systematic means’ and, yes, the Oxford connects it to brainwashing. 

Clearly the word is a combination of part of the word mental’ with the ‘-cide’ suffix that indicates killing. 

So, is this happening? 

Let me make a suggestion. 

Every time the Albanese government misleads us (by claiming they have nothing to do with the ISIS brides, or that our economy that is not spiralling out of control but is doing just fine)—they are guilty of attempted ‘menticide.’ 

I say ‘attempted menticide’ because it’s not working, is it? 

There appears to be a high degree of voter scepticism over Anthony Albanese and Tony Burke’s claim that they have nothing to do with the ISIS faction they have issued Australian passports to. 

And it’s not the only example. 

In fact, the most common piece of ‘attempted menticide’ I can think of is the expression ‘renewables are the cheapest and most reliable form of energy.’ 

This phrase has been repeated often by both Chris Bowen and Anthony Albanese. 

Do they actually believe it? Surely not? 

We all know that renewables (wind and solar power) are weather dependent—so they are not reliable. 

And our power bills tell us they are not cheap. 

Yet, they keep saying it. 

This must, surely, amount to an attempt at brainwashing (‘menticide’) by them aimed at us—do you agree? 


Tonight, I'll join John Stanley on 2GB, 4BC, 2CC and the Nine Radio Network for 'The Word Clinic' -- right after the 10pm news (9pm in Queensland). This is your chance to join the conversation about words and language -- either on the talkback or via texting.


My latest column has appeared on the Sky News Online website -- here's the link:  Real purpose of pro-Palestine activists flooding streets of Australian cities has morphed from ‘end the war in Gaza’ into something far more destructive | Sky News Australia


The latest issue of Australian Geographic is now at newsagents -- with a big beaked kookaburra on the front cover, and inside my two small columns on 'Ozwords' ad 'Placenames.'


TO SIGN UP FOR THE FREE DAILY NEWSLETTER SCROLL FURTHER DOWN THIS PAGE >>>>>>


BOOKS:


* My latest book is Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries -- containing 50 new stories I have written about the great detective. You can find it on Amazon. Just go to Amazon and type in Sherlock Holmes: 5-Minute Mysteries in the search panel. Or use this link:  h  Amazon.com.au : Sherlock Holmes 5-Minute Mysteries Kel Richards 


* My book "Defending the Gospel" is now in a second, fully revised, edition. You can find it here:  Defending the Gospel – matthiasmedia.com.au 


* If you're looking for my recent book "Flash Jim" you'll find it here --  Flash Jim, The astonis

hing story of the convict fraudster who wrote Australia's first dictionary by Kel Richards | 9781460759769 | Booktopia 


* You can find all Kel's books currently in print here --  Booktopia Search Results for 'kel richards'. We sell books, hardback, paperback, audio, CDs.  

 

* And also here --   Amazon.com.au : Kel Richards 


* And you'll find more here --  Search: 4 results found for "Kel Richards" – matthiasmedia.com.au 


* Many of Kel's out of print books can be found at ABE Books --  Kel Richards - AbeBooks explaining words explain the term


BY THE WAY...


If you'd like to see my A-Z list of Aussie slang, you'll find it here in the Australian Geographic website -- A-Z list of Aussie slang. Here’s the link: The A-Z of Aussie slang - Australian Geographic


The liveliest part of this website is usually the Q and A page -- be sure to check it out from time to time.

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THE AUSTRALIAN LANGUAGE

Kel Richards has been reporting on the Australian language for more than 30 years, and is the author of ten books about words and language. He has been described in one newspaper article as "the wordsmith to the nation." Kel is a veteran Australian author, journalist and broadcaster. In a long and distinguished career he has hosted ABC radio's flagship daily current affairs show "AM" and his own talkback shows on commercial radio. For 12 years Kel wrote and presented the popular daily feature "Word Watch" on ABC NewsRadio. For several years Kel was a member of the Standing Committee on Spoken English (SCOSE) at the ABC. Kel presents the weekly "Words Matter" segment on Peta Credlin's program on Sky News, he writes the "Language" column for The Spectator Australia and the "Ozwords" and "Placenames" columns for Australian Geographic. Kel joins John Stanley on 2GB, 4BC, 2CC and the Nine Radio Network each week for "The Word Clinic."

Ozwords appears in every issue of AUSTRALIAN GEOGRAPHIC.

Got a question about Aussie words?

ASK KEL

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